SectionsRoller hockey team eager, confident for nationals
Bears face strong teams in pool play
Kevin Price
Issue date: 3/31/09 Section: Sports
Expectations are high this weekend for the Missouri State roller hockey team, which will be competing in the Collegiate Roller Hockey National Championships in Feasterville, Penn. While they don't know much about their opponents, the Bears are confident of a strong showing in the tournament.
The tournament begins on Thursday with pool play to determine where the team will be placed in the final bracket on Saturday.
Missouri State, which has a regular season record of 11-2-5, is in pool D with Florida Atlantic University, Rowan University and Metropolitan State College of Denver.
Of the three teams that the Bears will play, Missouri State coach Rick Vasquez said that Rowan University is likely the Bears' biggest competition.
But Zach Dangos, a junior forward for the Bears, said the team isn't worried about the pool-play competition.
"In my opinion there is no certain team that we're 'worried' about," Dangos said. "You can't underestimate any team at nationals. Everyone makes it through pool play, but depending on how you do, you get a higher or lower seed for playoffs.
"Then in the playoffs, you cannot lose, or you're out."
The Bears' first game will be played Thursday against Rowan. The Rowan University Profs are 14-2-2 this season with two losses against Shippensburg and Drexel, both of whom have more than 10 wins in the 18-game season.
"Rowan plays against a lot of tough teams on the east coast, so I think they will be prepared to handle teams," said Missouri State defenseman Joe Riney.
Eric Jones, Andrew Amand and Cameron Rowand are Rowan's top three goal scorers, each of them averaging more than a goal and a half per game.
"As of right now I really have no clue what to expect for these teams at nationals," said Missouri State senior forward Salman Shah. "I think that it is a good thing because we will not be overconfident and we will not take any team lightly. If we come out and play the way that we can play, we will end this tournament where we deserve."
The tournament begins on Thursday with pool play to determine where the team will be placed in the final bracket on Saturday.
Missouri State, which has a regular season record of 11-2-5, is in pool D with Florida Atlantic University, Rowan University and Metropolitan State College of Denver.
Of the three teams that the Bears will play, Missouri State coach Rick Vasquez said that Rowan University is likely the Bears' biggest competition.
But Zach Dangos, a junior forward for the Bears, said the team isn't worried about the pool-play competition.
"In my opinion there is no certain team that we're 'worried' about," Dangos said. "You can't underestimate any team at nationals. Everyone makes it through pool play, but depending on how you do, you get a higher or lower seed for playoffs.
"Then in the playoffs, you cannot lose, or you're out."
The Bears' first game will be played Thursday against Rowan. The Rowan University Profs are 14-2-2 this season with two losses against Shippensburg and Drexel, both of whom have more than 10 wins in the 18-game season.
"Rowan plays against a lot of tough teams on the east coast, so I think they will be prepared to handle teams," said Missouri State defenseman Joe Riney.
Eric Jones, Andrew Amand and Cameron Rowand are Rowan's top three goal scorers, each of them averaging more than a goal and a half per game.
"As of right now I really have no clue what to expect for these teams at nationals," said Missouri State senior forward Salman Shah. "I think that it is a good thing because we will not be overconfident and we will not take any team lightly. If we come out and play the way that we can play, we will end this tournament where we deserve."
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